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Okinawans celebrate with Latin Music extravaganza

Date Posted: 2001-11-02

Almost 3,000 visitors from 28 different countries will participate in the 3rd Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival over the weekend. The festival is a once in every five-year event that aims to connect people of Okinawan descent with their ancestral home island. The central point of the gathering is the Okinawa Convention Center in Ginowan City where the opening ceremony will take place today starting at 1 p.m. A World Bazaar is open outside the convention center at the Ginowan Seaside Park from Friday through Sunday.

Other events include symposiums, exhibitions, and business councils intended to foster friendship and business networking among Okinawans living in all four corners of the earth. Music plays a big part during the festivities. A Music Fest, featuring Okinawan performers who are active both in domestic and foreign areas will be held at the Okinawa Convention Center Event Hall from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. With title "A Night of Uchina Latin!" the show features four widely acclaimed Uchina (Okinawan descendent) Latin bands including Diamantes, Kachimba 1551, Kenji Yamazato Band, and Tango Lomango. Admission to the event is free, but a ticket to be admitted is required. Japan Update office has still ticket available to this event. Our office is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on the Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival, check out www.wuf3.com/ehome.htm.